ADA Training Topics

Training sessions are tailored for each specific audience to provide the most effective training possible.

Employment (Title I)

Making Jobs Work: A Look at ADA Rights and Responsibilities for both Employers and Employees
This training explains both an employer’s legal responsibilities and an employee’s legal rights about getting and keeping a job.  Learn about the ADA definition of disability to find out whether a person is truly covered under this law.  Find out what a reasonable accommodation is, how to get help finding accommodations, and the interactive process that must happen when an employee asks for some kind of help to do his or her job. Learn about tax breaks for employers who are paying for accommodations.

Audience: Employers, Employees, Human Resource Professionals, and Disability Service Providers   

Disability Awareness and Sensitivity
This training is a must for all employers and their employees.  Learn about disability etiquette -  how to interact with people with disabilities, overcome prejudices, and use appropriate language  in a non-threatening and fun presentation.  This training is particularly helpful in breaking down barriers among co-workers when an employee has been granted a reasonable accommodation that seems unfair to others.
Audience: Business Owners, All Employees (particularly those who interact with customers), Human Resources Professionals, and Disability Service Providers  

Medical Questions and Exams
What questions may an employer ask a job applicant with a disability? What is a “medical examination” and when is an employer allowed to require one?  May an employer ask different medical questions once an applicant is hired?  These questions and more are answered in this informative training.
Audience: Employers, Human Resources Professionals, Disability Service Providers, and Individuals with Disabilities

All About Reasonable Accommodations
What is a reasonable accommodation?  This training examines the issue of disclosure of disability, documentation that may be requested from the job applicant or employee, and the required step-by-step, interactive reasonable accommodation process.  It covers the concepts of “undue hardship” and “direct threat” and gives detailed descriptions of the different categories of reasonable accommodations outlined in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Guidance.  Information about how to request a reasonable accommodation is included for applicants/employees as is information about tax incentives for employers to use to provide needed accommodations.
Audience: Employers, Employees, Human Resources Professionals, Disability Service Providers, Individuals with Disabilities

Reasonable Accommodation and Service Animals
This training discusses the meaning of “reasonable accommodations” and whether an employee may have a service animal at work.  Learn the differences between a service animal and an emotional support (or companion) animal.  Discuss the reasonable accommodation process itself and how to address possible fears or concerns co-workers and customers.
Audience: Employers, Human Resources Professionals, Disability Service Providers, Individuals with Disabilities

The ADA and Injured Workers
An employee injured on the job may or may not be considered to have a disability as defined by the ADA from his or her injuries. Learn about what reasonable accommodations may allow the worker to return to work, when the injured worker will be allowed to return to work, and possible safety issues that may need to be considered.
Audience: Employers, Human Resources Professionals, Disability Service Providers, Individuals with Disabilities

Telling an Employer About a Disability
When is a worker or job applicant with a disability required to tell the employer about his or her disability?  This training explores the pros and cons of telling an employer about the  disability, and the possible consequences of either choice for each party.
Audience: Employers, Human Resources Professionals, Disability Service Providers, Individuals with Disabilities

The ADA, Family Medical Leave Act, Oregon Family Leave Act  and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): How do I comply with their overlapping requirements?
This training is a review of the differing leave requirements employers must consider, and examines the overlapping interrelationship among them, with particular emphasis on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Audience: Employers and Human Resources Professionals

Drugs, Alcohol and the ADA
Are people who use drugs and/or alcohol protected under the ADA? Training includes a review of reasonable accommodation and disciplinary issues that employers encounter around substance abuse. Drug testing will also be discussed.
Audience: Employees, Employers and Human Resources Professionals

Emergency Preparedness for Who Employees with Disabilities
How do you plan for emergencies in your workplace?  Does your evacuation plan include procedures for both employees as well as any visitors who may be in your facility? Learn about establishing floor fire wardens, developing a buddy system, identifying areas of rescue assistance, written plans for each employee with a disability, and the importance of the three types of practices that will help ensure the safety of all. 
Audience: Employers, Employees, Safety Personnel and Human Resources Professionals

Is my workplace accessible for employees with disabilities?
How can a business owner know for sure whether his/her business is accessible for employees with disabilities?  This training gives a hands-on opportunity to examine offices of businesses, agencies or organizations (both for profit and not-for-profit facilities).  Those who attend are given a checklist to help them evaluate their own facilities, as well as tax information to offset some costs in upgrading physical facilities for ADA compliance.
Audience: Employers, Facilities Managers and Human Resources Professionals

What Every Human Resources Professional Should Know About the ADA
Discover the most commonly made mistakes employers make when working with employees with disabilities.  Learn about the critical interactive process, confidentiality requirements, burdensome documentation demands, the right to have an independent health professional provide a second opinion, accommodating hidden disabilities, and dealing with co-workers who do not understand why John gets to ignore certain office policies that they must follow.  This is an especially critical training for small business owners with less experience in providing ADA accommodations.
Audience:  Human Resources Professionals, Employers and Supervisors

Accommodating  Employees/Applicants with Psychiatric Disabilities

Negative attitudes toward psychiatric or emotional disabilities, as well as toward other hidden disabilities, may create difficulties for employers. Because many employers are suspicious of employees who claim that they experience disabling mental conditions and who may seem to stretch absence policies to the limit, there is often a feeling that the employee “just doesn't want to work.”  This training will explain various characteristics of hidden disabilities and lead to greater objectivity by providing an array of accommodations that may greatly improve attendance and/or conflicts in the workplace.

Audience:  Employees, Human Resources Professionals, Employers and Supervisors

 

State and Local Government (Title II)
ADA Title II Requirements for State and Local Government Entities
This training includes an intensive overview of major requirements for state and local government entities under the ADA.  How to modify policies and procedures and provide auxiliary aids and services to make sure people with disabilities can enjoy all programs and services will be thoroughly discussed. The requirements for physical access will also be reviewed.
Audience: State and Local Government Employees, Disabilities Service Providers, Individuals with Disabilities

Self-evaluation for State and Local Government
The ADA requires that state and local governments periodically evaluate their own programs, policies, practices and services to make sure they are accessible to people with all kinds of disabilities.  These policies include providing such accommodations as sign language interpreters, alternate formats, and access to TTYs.   There will also be discussion about physical access to buildings and to basic ADA requirements (e.g., curb cuts, accessibility of restrooms and to areas of service).  Instructions will be given on how to obtain an online Title II Action Guide which contains many individual checklists to guide the entity through the self-evaluation process.
Audience: State and Local Government Employees, Supervisors, Managers and Facilities Maintenance Workers

A Brief Overview of Title II
We'll explore highlights of the 9 major requirements for state and local government entities under the ADA, as well as alternatives for filling those requirements when they are technically infeasible to do or would be an undue burden to provide.
Audience: State and Local Government Employees, Disabilities Service Providers, Individuals with Disabilities

Effective Communication Under the ADA
The ADA requires that state and local governments provide effective communication to all people with disabilities.  Learn about various forms of “auxiliary aids and services” (interpreters, large print materials, Braille, etc.), how to locate providers, hints for handling last-minute requests, and how to make decisions about what services to provide.

Audience: State and Local Government Employees, Disabilities Service Providers, Individuals with Disabilities

Planning Accessible Meetings and Events
Whether a meeting or event will last, just a few hours or several days, there are many aspects of meeting planning are affected if the meeting will include people with various disabilities.  In this training, you will learn to consider the needs of people with disabilities from beginning to end:  choosing an accessible venue (evaluating the site beforehand for full accessibility of parking, meeting rooms, and restroom); advertising the event/meeting; designing registration forms, agendas and meeting materials; room configuration and set-up; providing auxiliary aids and services; planning for special dietary needs if food will be served; and the importance of providing designated staff to assist as needed before, during and after the event.
Audience: State and Local Government Employees, Managers, Supervisors, Disabilities Service Providers

Disability Awareness and Sensitivity
This training is a must for all employers and their employees.  Learn about disability etiquette -  how to interact with people with disabilities, overcome prejudices, and use appropriate language  in a non-threatening and fun presentation.  This training is particularly helpful in breaking down barriers among co-workers when an employee has been granted a reasonable accommodation that seems unfair to others.
Audience: Business Owners, All Employees (particularly those who interact with customers), Human Resources Professionals, and Disability Service Providers  

Access in the Public Classroom
This seminar includes an overview of the major federal laws related to public education and disability, including Title II of the ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1983 as Amended and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Learn about the rights of students with disabilities under these laws.
Audience: Educators, School Administrators, Parents, Individuals with Disabilities and Their Advocates

What Every ADA Coordinator Should Know
The ADA requires that every state or local government entity employing 50 or more people must appoint an ADA Coordinator to 1) handle ADA-related complaints; 2) ensure that there is a grievance procedure in place and that the public is informed of such process; and 3) make public the ADA Coordinator’s name and contact information.  This training includes an in-depth review of major issues about which ADA Coordinators should be aware under both the program access and employment provisions of the ADA. Coordinators learn about their responsibilities, self-evaluation, transition plans, grievance procedures, physical access as well as reasonable accommodation issues.
Audience: ADA Coordinators, State and Local Government Employees and Managers; People with Disabilities

Emergency Preparedness/Evacuation for People with Disabilities
By Presidential mandate in Executive Order 13347 of July 22, 2004, federal entities must encourage, through the provision of technical assistance, as appropriate, consideration of the unique needs of employees and individuals with disabilities served by State, local, and tribal governments and private organizations and individuals in emergency preparedness planning.  This training will help state or local agencies/departments prepare or update their emergency evacuation plans for both employees and visitors who may be in their facilities.  Learn best practices about establishing floor fire wardens, developing a buddy system, identifying areas of rescue assistance, providing appropriate signage, completing written plans for each employee with a disability, and understanding the importance of the three types of evacuation practices that will help ensure the safety of all. 
Audience: State and Local Government Managers, Facilities and Employees

Are the public areas of my building accessible to people with disabilities?
How can an agency director know for sure whether the agency’s public areas are accessible to people with various disabilities?  This training gives a hands-on opportunity to examine a public facility, and develop “new eyes” with which to notice potential problems for people with disabilities.  Attendees learn the “whys” of recommended changes, and are given a checklist to help them understand and evaluate their own facility’s needs.
Audience: Governmental Agency Directors, Unit/Department Managers, Facilities Managers and Human Resources Professionals

Businesses & Privately-owned Organizations/Agencies (Title III)
Title III ADA Requirements for Businesses
This training provides a broad overview of all the major requirements for privately owned businesses, organizations or agencies, whether for-profit or not for profit. Under the ADA, they must provide access to goods and services, modification of policy and procedure, and auxiliary aids and services and physical access to the extent that they are able.  
Audience: Business owners, Managers, Individuals with Disabilities

Disability Awareness and Sensitivity
This training is a must for all employers and their employees.  Learn about disability etiquette -  how to interact with people with disabilities, overcome prejudices, and use appropriate language  in a non-threatening and fun presentation. Learn about your legal obligations to provide reasonable accommodations when needed. This training is particularly helpful for employees with public contact.
Audience: Business Owners, All Employees, Human Resources Professionals, and Disability Service Providers  

Serving Patients with Disabilities
Learn best practices and legal requirements in providing medical services to patients with disabilities. Discuss appropriate language for interacting with patients with disabilities, as well as the need to provide auxiliary aids and services to patients with various impairments.  Become familiar with the requirement to modify policies and procedures when necessary to ensure equal opportunity.
Audience: Any medical professionals who work with the public, Individuals with Disabilities

Access in Existing Facilities
This training provides a review of ADA requirements for businesses in existing facilities (not built or altered after January, 1992).  There are alternatives to providing access to goods and services without making changes in physical access, including modifying policies and procedures; however, completing “readily achievable barrier removal” is required.  Discussion will include information about tax breaks to provide access compliance and how to determine a facility’s level of access.
Audience: Business owners, Managers, Individuals with Disabilities

Making Your Business Accessible to Everyone
Learn the general requirements for accessibility of businesses, including access to goods and services,   provision of assistance to customers with disabilities, modification of policies and the provision of goods and services by alternate methods other than facilities access will be discussed.
Audience: Business owners, Managers and Customers with Disabilities

Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
This training covers strategies for businesses to ensure the safety of customers with disabilities in an emergency.  Review issues that may arise regarding customers with mobility, sensory and cognitive disabilities along with the components of an inclusive emergency preparedness plan.
Audience: Business owners, Managers and Safety personnel

Planning Accessible Meetings and Events
Whether a meeting or event will last just a few hours or several days, there are many aspects of meeting planning are affected if the meeting will include people with various disabilities.  In this training, you will learn to consider the needs of people with disabilities from beginning to end:  choosing an accessible venue (evaluating the site beforehand for full accessibility of parking, meeting rooms, and restroom); advertising the event/meeting; designing registration forms, agendas and meeting materials; room configuration and set-up; providing auxiliary aids and services; planning for special dietary needs if food will be served; and the importance of providing designated staff to assist as needed before, during and after the event.
Audience: State and Local Government Employees, Managers, Supervisors, Disabilities Service Providers

Accessible Theatre and the ADA
This training covers issues specifically related to access in live theatre performances. How much is the theatre company required to do about providing auxiliary aids and services such as sign language, American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, audio description, and programs in alternate format?
Audience: Theater employees, Volunteers, Patrons with Disabilities

Accessible Museums and the ADA
Serving patrons with disabilities in the museum setting will be discussed. Access issues for the provision of effective communication, accessible displays, and tours will be reviewed.
Audience: Museum curators and staff, Individuals with Disabilities; Architects and Interior designers

 

 

 

Denise Spielman

ADA Answers NW
707 SW Gaines Street
Portland, OR 97239
(voice) 503.494.3882
7.1.1 Relay Service
(fax) 503.494.6868
spielmad@ohsu.edu